The 72 degrees recorded at Chicago's Midway airport was the location's highest December temperature since observations began there in 1928, according to Chicago meteorologist Tom Skilling.

Many cities in the Midwest and South saw temperatures that were 10 to 30 degrees above average for early December, the Weather Channel reports.

Only far northern New England and the northern Great Lakes region remained in the cool 40s.

The warmth surged ahead of a cold front that's gathering momentum today over the Plains, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

One more warm day is on tap for Tuesday: Highs will be in the 70s over much of the Southeast, the 60s and lower 70s in the Mid-Atlantic and will reach the 50s and 60s in central and southern New England on Tuesday, Sosnowski reports.

The front will move off the coast by Wednesday, when temperatures will return to more typical December readings.

So far this year, the National Climatic Data Center reports that the USA is experiencing its warmest year since accurate records began in 1895.